Reusable Tote

ABSTRACT

Reusable shopping bag with inner walls and top cradle to provide added flexibility and stability when transporting shopping goods. Two inner walls assist customers with separation and top panel that attaches with a removable fastener to the top of the other side of the bag, cradles delicate, breakable, crushable items that customers wish to safely secure, giving heavier non-breakable items designate space in the main compartment of the tote. The inner walls are designed, set below the top of the bag, to accommodate the top cradle, allowing weight of items to hang down into the bag, resting along the top of items contained within the main compartment. The inner walls and top cradle are designed to easily stow along the sides of the bag, maximizing bags full capacity, providing flexibility to customers that desire to have options when packaging or when store employees are packing items into the bag.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application claiming the benefit of provisional application No. 63/348,831 filed Jun. 3, 2022. This application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

This invention is a reusable washable shopping tote that was created out of market changes, requiring customers to pack their own shopping bags, eliminating environmental waste and reducing bag exposure to unknown elements that retail bags presented to customers. The tote is utilized by shoppers to maximize the shopping experience by providing a design that commingles heavy, hard, non-breakable items while safely supporting items that could be crushed, damaged or broken. The inner side walls are sewn several inches below the top of the bag to accommodate space for the top panel to cradle breakable or crushable items. The side walls are designed to hold heavier, larger or odd shaped items that the customer prefers to separate out, preventing items from falling inward. The inner panels are made from similar fabric and when able would ideally use textile scraps to reduce waste identified for landfill, supporting the environment and giving additional character to inner bag design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shopping bags available today on the market have pockets sewn into the bag unlike the side panels of this bag which are not closed at the bottom, allowing shoppers to push panels flush against the sides when not utilized. The side panels which act as walls when in use, assist customers with stabilizing weight to the sides of the bag. The side panels add an intuitive easy to use divider for both customers or store employees, packing the bag full of products, groceries or whatever the storage is needed for. The top panel is sewn to provide enough extra fabric length (slack) that the added weight of a breakable product, like eggs, pulls the distribution of the weight down inside the bag, safely cradling them from falling out. Bags utilized today generally require that customers place fragile, breakable or crushable items in a separate bag, creating additional waste. The cradle on top provides visibility to your fragile, breakable or crushable items so that customers know what items are in each bag and the reassurance of knowing that their products can be commingled into one bag without compromise of product damage. Customers take time to selectively pick out fruit and other delicate items that this bag design specifically addresses to safely hold those items above all other shopping items or in the middle of the main compartment, separated by the utilization of the side dividers/panels sewn into the sides. Bags today do not provide the flexibility that this bag provides either providing only one large compartment or defined pockets that restrict the size, type and number of items that can be placed in them. The Brennan bag (U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,690) for example has pockets that are closed on the bottom, long and carry up the entire side of the bag, attaching to the top of the bag, which requires users to be mindful of weight distribution when using pockets, distributing weight evenly or restrictive to what size products could be stored in them. Brennan bag pockets indicate primary usage focused on storing additional bags thus not intended to assist customers with weight distribution of products. This bag invention replaces the need for plastic bags, incorporates opportunity to utilize similar fabrics to divert and recycle textile waste, providing a revolutionary, durable design.

The bottom of the bag may be reinforced with ¼″ seams around all four sides.

The approximate 1″ handles may be made of nylon webbing, one on each side of the bag. The handle length allows the bag to hang comfortable to your side or from your shoulder. Length of handles attached to the top of the bag are 26″ to 28″, providing 12″ to 14″ hang from top of handle to top of bag. The handles are stitched starting at the bottom of the bag, where the seams that run the circumference of the bottom of the bag incorporate the handle material. The handle is stitched from the bottom up the full length of the bag for added reinforcement and durability.

There is a 1″ seam around the top of the bag for added durability.

The inside panels are sewn into the corners on both sides of the bag. The side panels or interior walls are 10″ in height starting from the bottom of the bag. The side panels allow 4″ clearance from the top of panel to the top of the bag, allowing the “cradle” or “hammock” panel enough slack to hang into the bag to distribute the weight of items placed on top. The side panels are designed to act as interior walls in the bag. The side panels are approximately 8″ to 10″ wide providing enough slack for customers to stack large soup cans, large jars, large yogurt containers, shampoo bottles, or whatever else customers desire to separate for added stability, holding those preferred items toward the sides, preventing them from toppling onto items in the main middle compartment area of the bag. The side panels are not pockets, closed at the bottom of the bag, allowing the customer to easily push the panel flush with the side wall of the bag when they are not in use. Customers carrying larger items, cereal boxes or products that need the full 8″×13″ capacity within the bag are able to push panels flush against sides for full capacity utilization. Or customers can use one side panel and not the other to give full flexibility, maximizing capacity for every shopping excursion. The panels may have ¼″ seams on top and bottom and sewn directly into the bags side seams.

The top panel (providing the “hammock” or “cradle”) is sewn with a 1″ seam along the top of the bag. The panel is 13″, running the width of the bag and 14″ running the height of the bag. The unattached end of the side panel, opposite of the side sewn to the top of the bag, has a about 1 to about 1½″ strip of heavy duty a removable fastener sewn in. The removable fastener may be one or more of: hook and loop fasteners, snaps, reclosable fasteners, slidingly engaging fasteners, magnets, zippers, or the like, Also, the bag may be made of a material that itself acts as one part of a removable fastener. For example, the hook portion of a hook and loop fastener is able to attach directly to some fabrics, such as wool or fleece, among others. When the top panel is left unattached to the removable fastener on the other side of the bag along the top, it can be left flush inside along the front of the bag with removable fastener facing the wall of the bag, providing flexibility. Most customers will fill the bag and then easily pull the panel up from the side of the bag, attaching the panel to the removable fastener sewn on the other side along the top of the bag. The removable fastener is heavy duty and provides an easier option for customers to quickly utilize without fumbling with snaps, buttons or zippers or other attachment mechanisms. Usually, customers that are shopping have the challenge of keeping up with the pace of the employee scanning products and appreciate that reduced hassle that removable fastener provides. The about 1 to about 1½″ width of the removable fastener running the entire length allows customers to quickly secure without the customer having to focus on ensuring both removable fastener ends precisely because matching portions of the removable fastener, due to its heavy duty utility, can provide strength to cradle the items on top. When attaching the top panel (known as “hammock” or “cradle”) to the removable fastener, on the other side of the bag, allows a 4″ sag or slack so that customers can feel confident about the support provided to delicate, breakable or crushable items they desire to protect. The approximate 4″ slack supports customers that may leave the main compartment half full, thus the slack pulls items stored on the “hammock” deeper into the bag, below the side panels, to stabilize weight. The top panel (known as the “cradle” or “hammock” also provides a cover over the items contained within the bag for customers that may want to fasten the top panel to protect, hide or keep items inside contained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a perspective of the full invention that includes all featured design elements.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective of the front of the invention.

FIG. 3 provides a side view perspective of invention with the inner top panel feature tucked inside the invention, out of sight.

FIG. 4 provides a side view perspective of the invention with the inner top panel feature hanging over the outside of the invention, covering up one of the handles along the side.

FIG. 5 Provides a perspective looking down on the invention, displaying the top panel hanging inside the bag and the side panels within the bag that add flexibility, separation and stabilization of products packed inside.

FIG. 6 provides a cross section perspective of the inside showing the interior side panels sewn below the top of the bag and seams sewn into the side corners of the invention.

FIG. 7 provides a cross section perspective of the inside showing the interior side panel and top panel, attached to the removable fastener, hanging into the interior of the bag.

FIG. 8 provides a cross section perspective of the inside showing products stored inside the side panel, holding four large cans, and an 18 count of eggs resting in the top panel, secured to the removable fastener. Products packed inside and resting on the top panel may vary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1 , reusable, durable, flexible utilization shopping bag 10, has a primary compartment 12 that allows for full utilization or partial utilization when side panels 14 and 16 are utilized for stabilizing supplies or products packed for transportation by customer. Side panels 14 and 16 are open at the top and bottom to allow customers to push the fabric panel 14 and 16 flush with the sides of the bag 26 and 28 when not in use or utilize only one side 14 or 16 or both when packing supplies and or products transported by customer. The open bottom specifically designed to not add unnecessary fabric that would prevent full utilization of main compartment 12 when not in use, reducing fabric from bunching. The side panels 14 and 16 provide the utility of walls that hold products and items from gravity pulling them toward the center. Side panels 14 and 16 are sewn approximately 4″ from the top of the bag 10 to give the top panel 18 slack in which it can hang into the bag when secured to the side 24 of the bag by removable fastener 20. The top panel 18 is sewn into the top of the bag side 22. Heavy duty removable fastener 20 (black color deliberate as part of this design) is about 1 to about 1½″ width and runs the length 13″ of the top, along one side of the bag. The bag 10 design allows for customers to utilize the top panel 18 as needed or leave it flush to the side of the inside of the bag as shown in FIG. 5 . FIG. 4 shows the top panel 18 when left hanging on the outside of the bag 10 on side 22, however most customers will leave the panel 18 hanging inside of the bag, along side 22 and then attaching as needed to the removable fastener 20 on the side 24 of the bag 10. The handles 30 and 32, which may be made of nylon, each have two points of attachment on both sides 22 and 24 of bag 10 as shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 demonstrating the two areas where each handle 30 and 32 are attached when looking down on the top of bag 10. FIG. 1 shows the top panel 18 hanging along the outside of bag 10 and displays handle 30 on side 24 of bag 10. Handles 30 and 32 have two seams that run across the top section of the bag, seam one 54 runs the circumference of the top of bag 10 and seam 60 may be approximately ¼″ above seam 54 providing added durability.

The dashed lines 40 shown in FIG. 1-6 indicate the ¼″ seams where fabric may be sewn to attach sides 22, 24, 26, 28 and bottom 34 of bag 10, reinforcing bottom 34 strength of bag 10. One or more sides 24, 24, 26, and 28 and bottom 34 may be made from one piece of material. Dashed lines 42 indicate ¼″ seams sewn on all 3 sides of top panel 18. FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 dashed lines 52 indicate the seam sewn to top panel 18 to bag side 22 1″ from the top (opening) of bag 10. Dashed lines 44, 46, 48, and 50 indicate the stitching seams that run the complete length of handles 30 and 32 on outside of bag sides 22 and 24. Seams that run along bottom 34 of bag 10 on sides 22, 24 and bottom 34 reinforce seams of handles sewn securely to side 22 or 24 and 34. Dashed line 52 seam reinforces top panel 18 securely to side 22 of bag 10. In FIG. 6 interior side panels 14 and 16 are sewn directly into the ¼ seams that attach bag side 24 to 26 and 28 and side 22 to 26 and 28. The dashed line 54 that runs along the top of bag 10 represents the seam approximately 1″ from top of bag 10. FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 display seams 56 of interior panels 14 and 16.

FIGS. 7 and 8 demonstrates the utility of the top panel 18 when fastened to the removable fastener 20 on the other side 24 of the bag 10 hanging into the interior of bag 10. FIG. 8 is an example of large soup cans 72 that can be stored along the side panel 14, stacked two cans 72 high. FIG. 8 demonstrates that two large cans 72 stacked rest approximately ¼″ below the side panel 14. The top panel 18 displays an eighteen count egg carton 70. FIG. 8 unlike FIG. 7 shows that if the bag is filled within a ¼″ of the top of the side panels, the top panel 18 will have extra slack, securely resting on the products within bag 10. The design goal of panel 18 is to prevent delicate, crushable, breakable items from falling into the bag 10. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for carrying items comprising: a base comprising four sides, four side walls, and a cover including first and second ends, such that at least one side wall is affixed to one side of the base and each side wall is affixed to two adjacent sidewalls to form a first storage area, and the first end of the cover is affixed to one side wall, and the second end of the cover includes a removable fastener and a side wall includes a removable fastener located inside the first storage area, such that the two removable fasteners may engage such that the cover primarily resides inside the first storage area to form an upper storage area, and wherein the cover, four sidewalls and base generally enclose the first storage area.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a first handle affixed to a side wall.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a second handle affixed to a side wall.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a first interior wall affixed to one or more sidewalls to form a second storage area within the first storage area.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a second interior wall affixed to one or more sidewalls to form a third storage area within the first storage area.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the base has a base length and the cover has cover length, wherein the cover length is greater than the base length.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: a first interior wall affixed to one or more sidewalls to form a second storage area within the first storage area, a second interior wall affixed to one or more sidewalls to form a third storage area within the first storage area, and the sidewalls have a height, wherein the second storage area has a second storage area height, the third storage area has a third storage area height, and the upper storage area has a upper storage area height, such that the sum of the second storage area height and upper storage area height is no greater than the sidewall height, and such that the sum of the third storage area height and upper storage area height is no greater than the sidewall height.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: two side walls have a width of about 8 inches and the other two side walls have a width of about 13 inches, each side wall height is about 14 inches, the first and second interior wall have a height of about 10 inches and a length of about 8 inches to about 10 inches, the base length is about 8 inches and the base has a width of about 13 inches, and the cover length is about 14 inches and the cover has a width of about 13 inches.
 9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: the first handle has a length of about 12 to 14 inches.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the base, side walls, and cover are made of polyester.
 11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the first and second handles are made of nylon.
 12. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein: the first and second handles have a length configured such that the apparatus may be held by a user's hand and the apparatus does not extend beyond a user's feet, and such that the handle's length is configured such that the apparatus may be worn over a user's shoulder.
 13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the first and second interior walls are configured such that they provide lateral stability to items placed inside the second and third storage areas.
 14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein: the removable fastener is a hook and loop fastener.
 15. An apparatus for carrying items comprising: a four-sided base with a base length, four side walls, a first handle affixed to a side wall, a second handle affixed to a side wall, a first interior wall affixed to one or more sidewalls to form a second storage area within the first storage area, a second interior wall affixed to one or more sidewalls to form a third storage area within the first storage area, and a cover with first and second ends and a cover length, wherein the cover length is greater than the base length, the sidewalls have a height, such that each side wall is affixed to one side of the base and each side wall is affixed to two adjacent sidewalls to form a first storage area, and the first end of the cover is affixed to one side wall, and the second end of the cover includes a removable fastener and a side wall includes a removable fastener located inside the first storage area, such that the two removable fasteners may engage such that the cover resides inside the first storage area to form a upper storage area, and wherein the second storage area has a second storage area height, the third storage area has a third storage area height, and the upper storage area has a upper storage area height, such that the sum of the second storage area height and upper storage area height is no greater than the sidewall height, and such that the sum of the third storage area height and upper storage area height is no greater than the sidewall height,
 16. A method of storing items in a tote bag comprising: placing at least one item in a first storage area in the tote bag, removably affixing a side of a cover to an interior attachment point in the first storage area to form a upper storage area, and placing at least one item in the upper storage area. 